Seahawks' Fisher faces assault charge

Seahawks defensive end Bryce Fisher has been charged with fourth-degree assault, stemming from an apparent domestic dispute with his wife. He appeared in Kirkland Municipal Court for a pretrial hearing on Wednesday.

Fisher, 29, was arrested and booked soon after an argument early on the morning of April 11 during which police were called, necessitating a mandatory arrest. The Renton native "cooperated fully," said his lawyer, Bill Bowman, and Fisher was arraigned later in the day.

A police report obtained by The Associated Press said Fisher twisted his wife's arm behind her back during the dispute.

"This caused her pain since she had surgery on her right wrist in July 2005 to repair a torn tendon," the report stated.

The report also said the couple had been struggling for control of Fisher's cellphone after his wife confronted him with allegations that Fisher was having an affair.

Bowman said the pretrial hearing will resume on Dec. 6 in Kirkland Court after the defense was granted a continuance on Wednesday. Bowman said he expects a resolution to the matter by that time.

The Seahawks would not comment on the matter, which is still being investigated. Fourth-degree assault is a gross misdemeanor charge in Washington state.

Fisher has been one of the Seahawks at the forefront of the team's goodwill and good-character campaign, being a local product and fan favorite.

A captain in the Washington Air National Guard, he recently toured American military installations in Afghanistan and the Middle East as part of an NFL-sponsored trip.

Another Seahawks player, right tackle Sean Locklear, is scheduled to be in court on June 13 for the beginning of his domestic assault trial. Locklear pleaded not guilty in Seattle Municipal Court on Jan. 17.

He was arrested two days before that outside a Seattle nightclub after witnesses told police that Locklear had grabbed his female companion by the neck.

Note

• The Seahawks have released DE Alain Kashama, who appeared in one game for the team last season.